Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-07-09

feet would not be more Intoxicating than
music, fragrance and propinquity in this
sunny cline. The sounds seem to slowly
die away the dance became a dream IN
which shadows moved. Shades of Monte
yuma were we all under spellP Is this
the enchanted castle of the Sleeping
Beauty, and shall we all slumber together
dancers, musicians and spectato-s-tili
Prince Charming comes alongP
! confess I was hoping so, when-presto :
The dream came to an end, as all dreams
do, Just before the climax; the music
stopped, the figure was finished, and
" Vanla1os al comern Let as go to supper")
were the magic words which suddenly
brought US back from the Aoslem's Eden
30 the latter end of the nineteenth century
in modern Mexico.
l had temporarily forgotten our Wall
street friend and the Senerita Antonio, and
now turned to look for them. She, with g
little pink flush on either cheek, as of q
child just awakened from slumber, and
eyes, if possible, more luminous than ever,
still turned her loving gaze upon the
watchful Francisco, even while saying
some sugary nothing to her bewildereG
partner and he-his steel-blue eyes had g
dazed look in then. Involuntary his hand
sought his bald pate as one who said
supper. he meandered out into the cool and
silent night.
THE DUENSA SYSTEM
Still vigorously prevails here in good So
ciety and not even novias and novios len
gagged couples are trusted for one moment
alone together. But the mischievoUs god
who laughs at locksmiths has many ways
Of oUtwitting the duennas. For instance,
when there is what is called bale dc COM
padres, the young folk generally maneuyer
TO secure partners to their minds. These
peculiarly informal balls for Mexico) must
be strictly private, including the most in
innate friends. with never a stranger or
" black sheep" among them.
1t is customary to write the names of the
young ladies on cards, which are placed in
e vase. Then e child, or q blind folded
person. carries this to each gentleman, and
in his presence draws forth card and gives
it to him. The guest reads aloud the name
upon it, and is thenceforth obliged to pay
his respects exclusively during the evening
to that particular lady; he must dance
with her all the time, comfort her with ap-
pies, according to Solomon. or with other
refreshments, and obey all her behests as
a dutiful cavalier should.
OF course this is perfect bonanza to those
lovers who happen to be assigned accord
ing to their wishes; but how narrowing to
these jealous Mexicanoes when mis-mating
takes place Since it is never safe to trust
too much to chance in this weary world,
the young ladies, aided and abetted by
their own true knights, have contrived
many cunning plans. The hostess of the
BALE DE coNFIANzA
Is taken into confidence and instructed
with infinite pains. She prepares favors,
q &c q
rosettes. flowers, or knots of ribbon, and
while cleverly pretending that the distri-
bution-made by herself-is all luck and
chance" she dexterously manages to give
the same color or device to those vino wish
to be colapddrsS, or companions.
At a recent ball of this kind 1 was much
amused at the anxiety manifested by the
gallant Dons concerning the disposition of
the favors. They surrounded the good
natured hostess, and inveigled her of into
corners for long and solemn conclaves,
such remarks being occasionally audible
as, Please give Panchita a blue rosette.
Der, Sonora, that Dolores is to have white
rosebud, for l am the cavalier of the white
rosebud party, you know"
There is wonderful charm about the
social and domestic life of these gentle
Mexicans which mere tourists rarely see
1t is not found at a public dan@a-and Just
one experience of that kind is sufficient for
lifetime. As the years roll by, one who
associates Familiarity with the higher classes
here, respects more and more the manifold
virtues OF the women and the honor and
patriotism Of the men. Nowhere in the
world can the student of human nature
find more interesting reading than in the
romantic lives and poetical superstitions of
the Mexican genus homo
FANNIE 3. WARD.